Ukrainians prepare to observe anniversary of Orange Revolution (11/20/05)

Ukrainians prepare to observe anniversary of Orange Revolution

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Ukraine's capital will shut down its main boulevard, the Khreschatyk, and reconstruct the maidan's stage to celebrate the Orange Revolution's first anniversary on November 22.

It was on that Monday in 2004 that thousands of Ukrainians began filling Independence Square to protest the rigged second-round vote of last year's election battle between presidential candidates Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukrainian politics have undergone seismic shifts in the year since the revolution, and it remains unclear whether President Viktor Yushchenko will stand alongside his former ally Yulia Tymoshenko, or if they will appear on the maidan's stage separately.

Stressing that he has "not a single problem with anyone," the president said in a November 8 live broadcast that he is confident that everyone from last year will be on the maidan this year, though no one has indicated in what time slot Ms. Tymoshenko would appear and with whom.

"I, as president, of course would like for these colleagues, who occupy these or other political niches or form these or other political forces, to stand in a line, apologize to whomever necessary, offer their hand, establish proper friendly relations and remember that behind us is a nation with grand expectations," Mr. Yushchenko said.

Though Ms. Tymoshenko has not publicly stated that she will join the celebration, her close political ally National Deputy Andrii Shkil said she will be on the maidan.

The former prime minister is not the only political force with whom the president has had a falling out.

Although Pora played a critical role during the Orange Revolution, its leaders said on November 16 that they were not invited to the maidan stage this year, with the possible of exception of their leader Vladyslav Kaskiv.

Since the Revolution, Pora also has undergone a split. Chorna (Black) Pora remained a grassroots organization, while Zhovta (Yellow) Pora has become a political party, which so far has not joined the Our Ukraine coalition.

Pora wasn't on the stage last year, so it suits them just as well not to be there this year, said Yevhen Zolotariov, the assistant chair of the party's political council. "We committed positive acts that did not involve delivering speeches on stage," he said.

Pora activists said the anniversary preparations could have taken place in a more transparent manner, through polls or surveys in which the Ukrainian people decide who should be on stage and on what date to hold festivities.

Pora refuses to recognize the November 22 date announced by the Yushchenko administration, and instead will hold a commemorative march on November 21, the day Pora views as the revolution's nascence, said press secretary Mariana Pochtar.

It was on November 21 that Pora initiated the events of the Orange Revolution with its protest march from Kontraktova Ploscha to Independence Square, where the first tents were erected, Ms. Pochtar explained.

While Pora has opted to commemorate the Orange Revolution separately, the Our Ukraine People's Union has led the preparations for the official anniversary festivities.

The anniversary celebrations are slated to officially begin at noon on November 20, when workers will begin erecting a stage in the same location as during the Orange Revolution, said Mykola Katerynchuk, chair of the Our Ukraine People's Union's central executive committee.

On Tuesday afternoon, pop artists will begin performing as part of a line-up that includes Vopli Vidopliasova, Okean Elzy, Tartak, Mandry, Maria Burmaka, Oleksander Ponomariov and Taras Petrynenko.

Favorite sons Gryndzholy were not invited, partly because the hymn they wrote for the Orange Revolution, "Razom Nas Bahato," has become moot in the year since.

"There are a lot of us, but we're not together anymore," said Taras Stetskiv, a national deputy of the Reforms and Order Party.

Though Mr. Stetskiv and Mykola Tomenko are both members of the Reforms and Order Party, which is part of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, they will deliver speeches on the anniversary, Mr. Katerynchuk said.

Also joining them on stage will be Vice Prime Minister for Regional Policy Roman Bezsmertnyi, National Deputy Volodymyr Filenko and Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Lutsenko.

Mr. Yushchenko is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. for 20 minutes. The evening's festivities will close with the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.

Pora leaders also criticized the event organizers for their program, which they said consists of "beautiful speeches," but little else.

Instead, they said they'd like to see the Orange Revolution's leaders deliver a report on what they've accomplished, or failed to accomplish, since the elections.

Pora has launched a campaign, "It's Time to Question Them," to hold the government accountable to the people who elected them.

Of the promises delivered on the maidan, Pora in particular wants to know why 5 million jobs haven't been created, why financing of social programs hasn't been secured, why quality education hasn't been provided regardless of economic status, why housing hasn't been built for the poor and why business hasn't been separated from government.

On November 25, Pora will hold a parallel count of unfulfilled promises from the maidan. The party is currently compiling the list of unfulfilled promises throughout Ukraine.

In Lviv, oblast and city officials, civic organization leaders and heads of national-democratic parties will take part in a large-scale public meeting in front of the Ivan Franko Opera Theater.

Channel 5 and the Lviv state television channel will hold marathons to honor the Orange Revolution, in which various authorities, leaders and officials will discuss the historic events.

Organizers expect between 250,000 and 500,000 supporters to turn out on the maidan for the anniversary celebration.

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